The first iPod I saw was from a family friend, who had the one with the four buttons on top of the scroll wheel. I remember being like, "How in the hell do they fit the music in there?” It was as thick as a brick, but it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I got one several years later, and likely infected the family computer with malware from downloading as many songs as possible. That was a big inflection point for me with music, and I soon found myself with a pair of headphones on everywhere I went.

I go in waves with listening to different genres, but I have always gravitated towards songs that tell great stories in a unique way. My favorite band of all time is Dire Straits, as I think they do this better than anyone. I have never listened to a Dire Straits song and thought, “Yeah, I’ve heard a similar song from XYZ other band.” They’re just so original. Songs like "Romeo and Juliet" and "Wild West End" are unmatched for driving at night. Mark Knopfler’s guitar playing and tone is also just ridiculous. Rock and country tend to be what I am listening to most often, and some of my other most-streamed artists include Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, and George Strait.